Senomyx Inc.has announced that Kent Snyder, chairman of the board of directors and CEO, will be retiring from the CEO position as of January 2, 2014.

Sndyer will continue to serve as the chairman of the company's board, a role he has held since May 2008.

The board has appointed John Poyhonen to succeed Snyder as CEO, effective Jan. 2, 2014. Poyhonen was named the company’s president and chief operating officer in September 2009, and has been a member of the Senomyx senior management team for 10 years. Since joining Senomyx Poyhonen has served in various roles of increasing responsibility, including as the company’s chief business officer and CFO. Poyhonen will also join the board of directors at the time he assumes the role of CEO and he will remain the company's president.